By Xinhua
Sydney : Leaders of the 21-member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) wrapped up their annual meeting here Sunday, agreeing to further promote trade and improve energy efficiency for the region’s sustainable development.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard, the host, announced the closing of the two-day meeting at a final declaration ceremony.
The leaders, after discussions under the theme of “Strengthening our community, building a sustainable future,” issued a leaders’ declaration, promising to demonstrate strong leadership in pursuing the region’s long-term prosperity and enhancing human security.
They also adopted a separate statement on the Doha Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations, reaffirming their support for the multilateral trading system and their determination to bring the negotiations to an early and successful conclusion.
On Saturday, after their first-day retreat, the APEC leaders also announced the Sydney Declaration on climate change, energy security and clean development, setting specific goals on reducing energy intensity and increasing forest cover.
Howard Sunday announced that the 2008 APEC leaders’ meet would be held in Peru.
Singapore, Japan, the US and Russia will host the following annual APEC meetings, Howard said at the closing ceremony.
The annual meeting of Pacific-Rim leaders is a forum of the highest level in the Asia-Pacific region, with the presence of prominent figures like US President George W. Bush, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Hu Jintao.